Post by International Baccalaureate

Last week, the African Education Festival 2026 took place in Johannesburg, hosted at American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ).   Over two inspiring festival days, we reimagined what education can look like in Africa under the theme “Building Ubuntu through Education in Africa — shared humanity, unique context.” Keynotes included powerful contributions from Judy Sikuza, Tshepo Motsepe, Amy Sarr Fall and James McCrae. We also enjoyed performances by the AISJ staff choir, students, and community voices, alongside multiple engaging breakout sessions. A strong red thread throughout the festival was the importance of respecting African roots and ancestors, being changemakers within their communities, and empowering the next generation to use knowledge to create lasting impact and help build nations. We were repeatedly reminded of Nelson Mandela’s words: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”   A heartfelt thank you to AISJ, all speakers, workshop leaders, participants, and sponsors. You demonstrated that Ubuntu in education truly is a verb. I am because you are.   See you next year! #IBAEF2026